The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, ended her two-day visit to Brussels in Belgium and started her visit to France in Bordeaux yesterday (June 16, Bordeaux time).

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam visited Château Latour to learn about the history of the Chateau, which is over 600 years old, and the wine-making process.  Mrs Lam and Mr Yau also visited La Cité du Vin, which is a cultural facility on wine opened in 2016, offering visitors various views of wine in different ages, cultures and places across the world with a unique presentation.

     Mrs Lam and the Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Stephan Delaux, then witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Convention and Tourism Office of Bordeaux Metropole on strengthening of collaboration in wine and food tourism promotion between the two places.  In the evening, Mrs Lam and Mr Yau attended a cocktail reception organised by the HKTB, which was held on a tall ship on the river bank of Bordeaux decorated with the Hong Kong brand, to celebrate the friendship between the two cities established over years of collaboration.

     Mrs Lam said that several of the fine wine and food tourism promotions in Hong Kong have all along been well received by tourists and locals.  She noted that Hong Kong is Bordeaux’s key wine market and France is Hong Kong’s largest wine trading partner, and that the trade volume has soared since Hong Kong abolished the duty on wine in 2008.  She expressed the hope that the two cities will continue its close relationship, and encouraged the wine merchants from France and Bordeaux to participate actively in the Vinexpo Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival that have all been held for years.

     Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then attended a dinner hosted by the Chairman of HKTB, Dr Peter Lam, and viewed lightshows and fireworks display.

     Mrs Lam will visit Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe today (June 17, Bordeaux time) before going to Marseille in the afternoon to continue her visit to France.

          

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Sham Shui Po yesterday (June 16) in which a 60-year-old man died.

     At about 8.13pm yesterday, the 60-year-old man parked a light goods vehicle (LGV) on Yee Kuk Street. When unloading goods at the rear end of the LGV, he was reportedly knocked down by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) from behind. The SPV then hit the LGV. A 46-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man standing on roadside was hurt by glass fragments.

     Sustaining serious head and leg injuries, the 60-year-old man was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital in conscious state and was certified dead at 10.16pm. The non-ethnic Chinese man sustained neck injuries and was sent to Caritas Medical Centre in conscious state for treatment.

     The 73-year-old SPV driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for further enquiries.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon West is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 9000 or 3661 9058.

     Hong Kong Customs today (June 16) seized about 500 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million and a duty potential of about $1 million in Yuen Long.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Yuen Long this morning, Customs officers intercepted a man and found about 50 000 suspected illicit cigarettes from a light goods vehicle beside him. Later, Customs officers further seized about 450 000 suspected illicit cigarettes from a metal hut nearby.

     The 53-year-old man was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

      Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (June 16):

     A 92-year-old female patient in an Orthopaedic and Traumatology ward of TMH was confirmed as Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on June 14. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Three more female patients (aged 59 to 91) were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All patients are still hospitalised with stable condition.

     The concerned ward has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:

     1.   Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions have been applied;
     2.   Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
     3.   Enhanced disinfection and cleansing of the concerned ward.
      
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 16) that the shark prevention nets at Cafeteria Old Beach and Kadoorie Beach in Tuen Mun District have been repaired and the beaches have been reopened.

     The beaches were temporarily closed earlier on for shark prevention nets maintenance work.